Sunday, November 6, 2016

Writing is the end all and be all of film making. -Abhishek Chaubey ( Udta Punjab, Ishquiya, etc. )

Now you can learn to write a complete screenplay from anywhere in India or outside.

I offer this workshop online, we can meet on gtalk, or on skype. You would be expected to submit your assignments by email. Call me for a free trial class.

Schedule : The time and date is mutually decided, as the sessions are mostly one to one, and therefore, customised.

Language of Communication : We can communicate in Hindi, English or Marathi. If you want to write the dialogues in a regional language, I would need a translation. A basic , working knowledge of English is preferable, as the scriptwriting format is in English.

Syllabus

The Script Writing Course is divided into two parts, the Story and the Screenplay.

STORY

Aim – The secret behind a good film is a well told story. All of us have many stories in our cupboard, but we don't know how to tell them. In this section, we learn the art and the craft of writing a complete short story, which we will later transform into a script.

Day 2 : An exercise to deal with the writers block. Start your own story.

Day 3 : Structure of a story : Conflict and Resolution. Developing your story.

Day 4 : Making it flow : Transitions, both poetic and visual.

SCREENPLAY

Aim – In the professional world of films, the audio visual format of the screenplay is the only way to 'show' your story. Your script will not be read unless it is written in the correct format. The final stage of the process is a storyboard, which is an illustration of all the shots such that the images and camera angles are clearly visualised. If you can master the art of the storyboard, your script is ready to be shot.

Day 5 : Format of the American Screenplay. Scene Construction.

Day 6 : Theme, Story and Plot. Integrating these in your script.

Day 7: Characterisation, Dialogues and Transitions.

Day 8 : Writing a complete five page script.

Day 9 : Going back to telling. Write a one-line script, and practice the pitch talk.

You will be given links to free scriptwriting softwares, scripts to read up, and some films which I would like you to watch before and during the sessions. These sessions will be evenly spaced out, depending on the time the student has for home-work.

The classes will be referring to popular Indian films like Sholay, Deewar, Dil Chahta hai, Pinjar, Satya, 3 idiots, Piku, Bajrangi Bhaijan, and American films like Kill Bill, American Beauty, Little Miss Sunshine, etc. So please watch most of these films if you have not seen them, before the course begins.

The fees for these ( nine sessions of two hrs each) online workshops is Rs 9,500/- If you need support for writing a longer script, we can discuss the amount.

Faculty : Manjushree Abhinav

Manjushree is an author and a film maker. An alumnus of the Film and TV Institute of India, she has taught scriptwriting and film making at FTII, NID, and Storygram.

Thursday, June 30, 2016

Attend Manjushree Abhinav's popular one-day Creative Writing Workshop on Sunday the 3rd of July in Pune.Fees Rs 900 only. For details and registration, email manjushree.abhinav@gmail.com or whatsapp/call 09825476446

Writing is healing with words, just as painting heals stroke by stroke. The creative energies flow well with regular scrubbing and clearing out the garbage that clogs our minds. The aim of the workshop is to dig out the blocks that hamper the flow of the creative juices and fuel the love of writing towards an intense and natural discipline. It will help the beginner as well as the writer who is stuck in the middle of a story, a script, a film....

What is the essence of the creative process? What is the source of the artistic impulse? A film, or a book, is born as a thought, a strong, palpable feeling that tugs. Once identified, this tug can be the link to the big bundle, the one that can stream out as the novel. All you need to do is to catch that thread from your bundle of thoughts and keep puling gently. Maybe you sat with a pen in your hand and tried to write. And maybe your bundle got tight and the thread snapped. Untangling that bundle can be a delicate, at times painful, but ultimately fulfilling creative process. Dealing with the tangled bundle requires something they don't sell in the shops. You can try to use fevicol and stick your bottom to the writers chair. If that doesn't work, come sign up for Manjushree's Creative Writing Workshop.

Feedback from students who have attended Manjushree Abhinav's Creative Writing Workshops:

"Something more than creative writing happened in this class. I didn't realize that I had so much pain stored inside. During the writers' block exercise, when Manjushree made us time travel to our childhood, I remembered the three year old girl who would dance, waiting for my father to come home and I wept tears of joy". - Sri Lata M

DEALING WITH THE WRITERS' BLOCK

Why do we write? Because we need to tell the story. As children, all of us are born creative. When we learn to talk, there is no difference between imagination and reality. Education encourages us to develop our logic and the creative process takes a back seat. The glimpses of the muse are short and sweet: She comes visiting, she leaves a scene and takes back the movie. Missing the muse, the creative spirit, leads to the writer's block.

Creative blockage can happen to the best of artists. Although we call this a writer's unblocking ritual, this exercise is known to help all kinds of artists in getting over their creative blocks. This exercise is self-introspective and at the same time lighthearted. Words get tossed out, opening a series of self traps. Those who are truly interested in unearthing their hidden depths love this exercise.

SECRET TOOLS OF AN ARTISTCreativity is not just a hobby. It is a spiritual path. More like a spiritual garden. A garden that is watered with attention and shined on with energy will flower. The creative gardner who is flowing in art carries a bag full of secret tools. I am not talking of the painters canvas and oils. Those you can buy in the shops. My bag is full of attitudes. Devil may care or not, the artist is not an artist without them.

TEACHER'S PROFILEManjushree Abhinav is a film-maker and novelist. She has authored a novel called 'A Grasshopper's Pilgrimage' published by Rupa & Co. Manjushree has studied at the Film & Television Institute of India, Pune. She has made several documentary and fiction films. She has taught at premier institutions like the Film & Television Institute of India, Pune, and the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. She has been conducting popular workshops on creative writing, script writing and film-making in Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Bangalore.

Manjushree writes for the creative outlet, deep fulfillment and clarity of mind that sometimes come as a gift with a good session of writing. She teaches what she most needs to learn.

Creative Writing and Scriptwriting Workshops

The Script Writing Course is divided into two parts, the Story and the Screenplay.

STORY

Aim – The secret behind a good film is a well told story. All of us have many stories in our cupboard, but we don’t know how to tell them. In this section, we learn the art and the craft of writing a complete short story, which we will later transform into a script.

Day 2 : An exercise to deal with the writers block.
Identify your pain. And feel free to spice it, colour it or enhance it.Day 3 : Cathartic structure of a story : Resolve the conflict, free yourself from poor Cinderella by marrying her off to Prince charming.Day 4 : Play with suspense, surprise and humour. Convert the story into an interesting plot.Day 5 : Make it flow : Final touches to the story. Self Editing.

SCREENPLAY

In the professional world of films, the audio visual format of the screenplay is the only way to ‘show’ your story. Your script will not be read unless it is written in the correct format.
Any kind of cinema, when (re-)looked at calmly, gives away its secrets. Which is why film appreciation is such an interesting study.

Day 1 : Show, do not tell : Re-learning to write Audio - Visually. Format of the Screenplay. Writing a scene. (this can take a day or two )Day 2 : Zoom out, get a perspective. Theme, Story and Plot. Writing a one line script.Day 3: Characterisation, Dialogues and Scene Transitions. Analysing your favourite films/ scenes.Day 4 : Writing a five page script, based on your own story.

You will be given links to free scriptwriting softwares, scripts to read up, and some films which I would like you to watch before and during the sessions.
The fees for this ( eight/ nine sessions of two hrs each) workshop is Rs 9,500/-

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Manjushree Abhinav, a film-maker, novelist and teacher, is organizing the 9th batch of the course in film making, from concept to screen, on Saturdays and Sundays over two summer months, May and June'2016, in Bengaluru. Manjushree has taught at the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, NID ( National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad), and Srishti, Bangalore.

This Weekend batch organised by Manjushree Abhinav has a great faculty, reasonable fees and a convenient location. It gives people the opportunity to learn film-making without leaving their jobs or studies.

So you can now follow your dreams while taking care of your responsibilities.

COURSE CONTENT

Creative Writing

Since this course deals with fiction films, we would first tap the biggest reservoir of stories : an unblocked storehouse of memories and emotions. We will also understand the structure of the conflict-resolution story, and we shall dip into the Navarasas. The aim of the workshop is to dig out the blocks that hamper the sprouting of the creative juices and fuel the love of writing towards an intense and natural discipline. It will help the beginner as well as the writer who is stuck in the middle of a story, a script, a film….Students will get assignments to work on during the week, and they will be expected to write a short story by the end of the workshop.

Scriptwriting

The story we have structured in the creative writing workshop, we will stretch out into an audio visual script. We will understand the elements of Scriptwriting: Characterization, Plot, Structure, Theme, etc. We shall also be watching world class films and understand how they have been structured and written. Students will get assignments to work on during the week, which will be reviewed in class. By the end of the course, students will write a short script in the prescribed format.

Acting workshop

It is only when we our-self get liberated from inhibitions that we can direct others. A theater professional will conduct this workshop, which includes body work, skits, and loads of fun. Most of the times, the short films that we make at the end of the course are enacted by the students themselves. So students have a great time performing for each other, and this exercise basically serves as a pre-curser for the experience of directing the short film.

Screen grammar is the practical knowledge on which a script is made into a shooting script.

Camera Practicals

Basics of how to use a digital camera will be followed by shooting a twelve shot exercise to understand the rules of screen grammar hands on. A professional camera person will conduct this class. The Elements of EditingWhat we have shot we will now edit on Final Cut Pro, an editing software. So we will experience the entire process of scripting, shooting and editing. The basics of screen grammar, like continuity, will thus become clear.We will also talk about how the history of Editing is synonymous with the development of language of cinema. A professional Editor will conduct this class.

Making the short film

The final project of the course will be to make short fiction films. The best scripts will be selected from the scriptwriting course, and students will make groups of five to make their fiction films.Here is one of the films we made in the first batch. Its called , The Skipping Rhyme. An old man gets an answer to a deep question from a little girl.You can watch other student films here : http://storygram.in/student-films/

CONTACT : You can also email us at manjushree.abhinav@gmail.com for more information. or call +91 98254 76446.

VENUE : Shall be put up asap.

DURATION : The course would span across two months of weekend classes, from beginning of May to end of June, 2016.

FEE STRUCTURE

The film making course includes creative writing, script writing, acting workshop, camera practicals, elements of editing, and making the short film, during two months of weekend classes.

The total fees for this course is INR Twenty two thousand and eight hundred, (Rs.22,800/).The course fees cover the classes, the visiting faculty's fees, the cost of making the student film, and study material like books and cds.

Manjushree Abhinav’s Film making Course is right for you if you are:

A Newcomer: The course would equip you to enter the Film and Television Industry as an assistant director or to make short films independently.

A Mediaperson who’s learnt on the job: You would benefit from learning the basics formally and getting your fundas clear.

A Professional who is already working in the Industry in another capacity: It would help you become a full-fledged director.

From the Corporate Sector: The course would add to your qualifications since films are a very important medium of corporate communication & advertising.

Animators will understand film making, which is an important aspect of animation.

The benefits of joining this Film Direction Course

WEEKEND CLASSES: Full-day classes on Sundays, so you can pursue your dreams without forsaking the responsibilities of your work or studies.

WELL-DESIGNED SYLLABUS: More than 50% of class time would be devoted to hands-on film-making, so that you learn how to transform your ideas into films that light up the silver screen. While the course is practical-oriented, the theory portion would help you develop a sound understanding of the basics of story-telling and film-making. You will also be watching many world class films to appreciate the different aspects of the teaching. The visiting faculty will be from reputed institutes like FTII, SRISTI School of Art and Design, Chitra Kala Parishad, etc.

STUDENT FILM: You would write and direct a short film. The cinematography and editing would be done by professionals from the Industry, which would be a great learning experience. It would also result in a well-made film which you can be proud of and use as your show-reel as well as submit to film festivals.

STUDY MATERIAL : The students would be given:

Copies of important books

Scripts

Links to useful websites and free scriptwriting software

CDs & DVDs of some important films

CERTIFICATE: You would be given a certificate at the successful completion of the course.

FILM FESTIVALS: The student films made as part of the course would be sent to film festivals.

DEMAND FOR FRESH VOICES: The Indian film and television industry is looking for fresh voices. With the diminishing appeal of the formula masala film, there is a demand for out-of-the-box thinking, for directors who understand the art and craft of film-making. It’s a great time to enter the field!

TEACHER'S PROFILE

Manushree Abhinav has authored a novel, 'A Grasshopper's Pilgrimage'.She is a film maker. She has studied at FTII, Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. She has made several documentary films, and taught various aspects of film making like scriptwriting, making documentary films, video editing, at FTII, NID (National Institute of Design), Ahemedabad, Srishti School of Art and Design, Bangalore.She has also conducted several creative writing workshops at the Times of India Nalanda group, Bangalore, Ahemedabad and Mumbai. You can watch her films and read part of her book at www.storygram.in.